System for protecting and storing caps

ABSTRACT

A system for protecting and storing caps according to various aspects of the present technology may include a main body section having an internal volume for receiving a plurality of caps and a forebody for receiving a front portion of at least one cap. The forebody may include a conforming upper section and a lower portion having a receiving pocket for a bill of the cap. The conforming upper section may be shaped to correspond to the size and shape of the forward portion of a crown of the standard ball cap. The main body section may allow for a linear stacking of the plurality of caps within the interior volume.

BACKGROUND OF THE TECHNOLOGY

Ball caps are common style of headwear and often come in various styles. For example, professional baseball teams often use at least two different designs of caps: one for home games and another for away games. Additional styles may be created to correspond to special event days such as Memorial Day, Independence Day, Throw Back Day, or cancer awareness. Further, special edition caps may be created when a team makes the playoffs. Teams may also occasionally change their uniforms, logo, or mascot design resulting in a new series of caps. As a result, it is common for fans to purchase several styles of hats for just a single team.

An individual may own several caps and as a result be faced with a need to store their caps between use. For some individuals, particularly those with collections of hats that number in the dozens, storage space may become problematic. Counter, shelf, or closet space may be limited and, even if there is sufficient space available, environmental elements such as dust may gather on caps that are not worn on a regular basis. There are few practical solutions to this storage concern and individual cap owners are left to store their caps in boxes or place their caps in bags if they want to avoid dust during storage. This may also make it difficult to locate a particular cap when needed. Further, traditional types of bags or luggage may not protect a cap during transport resulting in damage to the cap.

SUMMARY OF THE TECHNOLOGY

A system for protecting and storing caps according to various aspects of the present technology may include a main body section having an internal volume for receiving a plurality of caps and a forebody for receiving a front portion of at least one cap. The forebody may include a conforming upper section and a lower portion having a receiving pocket for a bill of the cap. The conforming upper section may be shaped to correspond to the size and shape of the forward portion of a crown of the standard ball cap. The main body section may allow for a linear stacking of the plurality of caps within the interior volume.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present technology may be derived by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the following illustrative figures. In the following figures, like reference numbers refer to similar elements and steps throughout the figures.

FIG. 1 representatively illustrates a perspective view of a storage bag in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present technology;

FIG. 2 representatively illustrates a front view of the storage bag in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present technology;

FIG. 3 representatively illustrates a rear view of the storage bag in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present technology;

FIG. 4 representatively illustrates a left side view of the storage bag in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present technology;

FIG. 5 representatively illustrates a right side view of the storage bag in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present technology;

FIG. 6 representatively illustrates a top view of the storage bag in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present technology;

FIG. 7 representatively illustrates a bottom view of the storage bag in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present technology;

FIG. 8 representatively illustrates a cross-sectional view through line 8-8 of FIG. 4 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present technology; and

FIG. 9 representatively illustrates a view showing a plurality of caps stacked within the storage bag in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present technology.

Elements and steps in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been rendered according to any particular sequence. For example, steps that may be performed concurrently or in a different order are illustrated in the figures to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present technology.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The present technology may be described in terms of functional block components and various processing steps. Such functional blocks may be realized by any number of components configured to perform the specified functions and achieve the various results. For example, the present technology may employ various materials, connectors, and geometries, which may carry out a variety of operations. In addition, the technology described is merely one exemplary application for the disclosed device.

A system for protecting and storing caps according to various aspects of the present technology may operate in conjunction with any material such as: plastic, vinyl, cloth, leather, canvas, or other materials. Various representative implementations of the present technology may be applied to any type of portable carrying case, duffel, or suitcase.

Referring to FIGS. 1-6, a storage bag 100 may comprise a main body portion 102 and a forebody 104 having an upper conforming portion 106 and a lower portion 108. The main body portion 102 may comprise an interior volume for receiving and storing a plurality of ball caps arranged in a stacked order. For example, standard baseball style caps may be stacked in a linear arrangement by folding the rear portion of a crown of a first ball cap inwardly towards the front portion of the crown to form a concave area. This allows the exterior surface of the front portion of the crown of a second ball cap to be positioned adjacent to the concave area of the first ball cap. Similarly, if the rear portion of the crown of the second ball cap is folded inwardly like the first ball cap, then the exterior surface of the front portion of a third ball cap can be positioned adjacent to the second ball cap creating a linear stack.

The interior volume of the main body 102 may be configured to receive and maintain the linear stack of ball caps in position during storage or transport. In one embodiment, the main body 102 may comprise a pair of opposing sidewalls 110 extending upwardly from a flat bottom section 112 towards a center top portion 126. The opposing sidewalls 110 and top portion 126 may form an arched surface along the length of the main body 102 between a rear curving end 124 and a forward curving end 122. A substantially flat rear section 114 may extend upwardly from the bottom section 112 and extend between the two opposing sidewalls 110 and top portion 126 to enclose the rear of the interior volume of the main body 102.

The opposing sidewalls 110, top portion 126, and rear section 114 may comprise any suitable material for protecting the interior volume of the main body 102 such a vinyl, plastic, canvas, cloth, leather, or the like. For example, in one embodiment, the opposing sidewalls 110, top portion 126, and rear section 114 may comprise a clear plastic or vinyl that is flexible and impermeable to liquid. In another embodiment, the opposing sidewalls 110, top portion 126, and rear section 114 may comprise a more rigid material configured to hold its shape and be resistant to damage from impacts.

The opposing sidewalls 110, top portion 126, and rear section 114 of the main body 102 may comprise any suitable dimensions to form the interior volume that is sufficient to hold the plurality of ball caps arranged in the stacked order. In one embodiment, the dimensions of the main body 102 may be slightly larger than the dimensions of a standard baseball cap. For example, the opposing sidewalls 110, top portion 126, and rear section 114 may form a main body having a height between eleven and eighteen centimeters, a width between sixteen and twenty-eight centimeters, and a length of at least twelve centimeters. Such dimensions may provide for an interior volume sufficient to receive the plurality of ball caps without having excessive gaps to the sides of top of the caps that would allow them to move around uncontrollably during storage or transport.

Each section may be joined together by any suitable method such as stitching or adhesion. For example, in one embodiment, each section may be joined to an adjacent section in a manner to prevent moisture intrusion along the seams between each section. In an alternative embodiment, the opposing sidewalls 110, top portion 126, and rear section 114 may be formed from a single piece of material or fabric.

Referring now to FIG. 7, the bottom section 112 may comprise a flat surface configured to provide a surface for the linear stack of caps to rest or to allow the storage bag 100 to be positioned on a flat surface. The bottom section 112 may be configured to resist damage during use such as by comprising an outer surface that is resistant to damage from abrasions or by being impermeable to moisture. The bottom section 112 may also be at least semi-rigid and be configured to maintain its flat surface during use or storage.

Referring again to FIGS. 1-6, the main body 102 may also comprise a set of handles to allow a user to carry the storage bag 100. For example, a first carrying strap 116 may be disposed along one sidewall 110 and a second carrying strap 116 may be disposed on the opposing sidewall 110. Each carrying strap 116 may extend upwardly from the sidewalls 110 of the main body 102 portion towards the top portion 126. The main body 102 may also be configured to include a shoulder strap 118. The shoulder strap 118 may be connected to the main body 102 by any suitable method. For example, in one embodiment, the shoulder strap 118 may include a pair of clips 202, 304 that are configured to be detachably coupled to mating connectors 204, 306 located at opposite ends of the main body 102 proximate the forward and rear curving ends 122, 124.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 4, and 6, in one embodiment, the main body 102 may further comprise an opening configured to provide access to the interior volume of the storage bag 100. For example, a zipper 120 may be disposed along a first sidewall 110 and extend between the forward and rear curving ends 122, 124. The zipper 120 may also extend along at least a portion of the top portion 126 towards the opposite sidewall 110 to increase the size of the opening.

The storage bag 100 may also be configured to be hung on a wall or from a bar to increase the number of ways in which the storage bag 100 may be stored. For example, and referring now to FIGS. 3-7, a hanging element 302 may be positioned along the rear of the main body 102 to allow the storage bag to be hung. In one embodiment, the hanging element 302 may comprise a grommet extending outwardly away form the flat bottom section 114 such that an opening of the grommet may be positioned around a hook on a wall. The hanging element 302 may also be positioned substantially perpendicular to the rear section 114 and parallel to the flat bottom section 112 to allow the storage bag 100 to rest flush against the wall.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2, and 4-6, the forebody 104 may be positioned proximate the forward curving end 122 to seal off the forward section of the interior volume of the main body 102 opposite the rear section 114. An interior surface of the forebody may be configured to receive the forward-facing surfaces of at least one ball cap when the ball cap is positioned within the interior volume for storage. In one embodiment, the forebody 104 may comprise the upper conforming section 106 and the lower portion 108.

The upper conforming section 106 may be configured to conform to the size and shape of the front crown portion of a baseball style cap to provide a receiving area for the ball cap when stored inside the storage bag 100. For example, the upper conforming section 106 may comprise a surface that curves outwards and down from a top section of the forward curving end 122 towards the lower portion 108. The upper conforming section 106 may simultaneously curve outward and arch from one sidewall 110 to the opposing sidewall 110 to form a compounding curving surface that generally matches the shape of the ball cap. This shape may form a concave area within the interior volume of the main body that matches the crown of the first ball cap in the linear stack of caps as described above.

The upper conforming section 106 may be configured to protect the crown of the ball cap during storage and may comprise any suitable device or mechanism to achieve this purpose. For example, the upper conforming section 106 may comprise a rigid material that is resistant to bending or deformation. Alternatively, the upper conforming section 106 may comprise a flexible material that can adjust to the crown of a cap when positioned within the interior volume.

The lower portion 108 may be configured to receive the bill of the cap positioned against the interior surface of the upper conforming section 106. To accomplish this, the lower portion 108 may extend outwardly from a bottom edge of the upper conforming portion 106 and the end of the main body 102 portion. The lower portion 108 may comprise a curving forward edge 128 configured to conform to an outer edge of the bill of the ball cap. The curving forward edge 128 may comprise a semi-rigid material configured to help maintain the shape of the bill of the ball cap or protect the edge of the bill during storage.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, an interior section of the lower portion 108 may comprise a receiving pocket 802 configured to receive the bill 902 of the ball cap 900 when the crown of the ball cap 900 is positioned against the interior surface of the upper conforming portion 106. The receiving pocket 802 may comprise any suitable size or shape for receiving the bill 902. For example, the receiving pocket 802 may comprise a volume sufficient to simultaneously receive at least a portion of between one and five bills 902 from the linear stack of caps.

The receiving pocket 802 may be formed by a sleeve 804 extending across a width of the main body 102 between opposing sides of the forward curving end 122 and above the flat bottom section 112. The sleeve 804 may be integrated with or form the lower portion 108 of the forebody 104. The sleeve 804 may comprise a flexible or stretchable material that can expand or adjust to the bill of the ball cap when inserted into the receiving pocket 802.

These and other embodiments for a storage bag 100 may incorporate concepts, embodiments, and configurations as described above. The particular implementations shown and described are illustrative of the technology and its best mode and are not intended to otherwise limit the scope of the present technology in any way. Indeed, for the sake of brevity, conventional manufacturing, connection, preparation, and other functional aspects of the system may not be described in detail. Furthermore, the connecting lines shown in the various figures are intended to represent exemplary functional relationships and/or physical couplings between the various elements. Many alternative or additional functional relationships or physical connections may be present in a practical system.

The description and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative manner, rather than a restrictive one and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present technology. Accordingly, the scope of the technology should be determined by the generic embodiments described and their legal equivalents rather than by merely the specific examples described above. For example, the components and/or elements recited in any apparatus embodiment may be assembled or otherwise operationally configured in a variety of permutations to produce substantially the same result as the present technology and are accordingly not limited to the specific configuration recited in the specific examples.

As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any variation thereof, are intended to reference a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, composition or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements recited, but may also include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, composition or apparatus. Other combinations and/or modifications of the above-described structures, arrangements, applications, proportions, elements, materials or components used in the practice of the present technology, in addition to those not specifically recited, may be varied or otherwise particularly adapted to specific environments, manufacturing specifications, design parameters or other operating requirements without departing from the general principles of the same.

The present technology has been described above with reference to exemplary embodiments. However, changes and modifications may be made to the exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the present technology. These and other changes or modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present technology, as expressed in the following claims. 

1. A storage bag for a plurality of ball caps, comprising: a main body portion having an interior volume; and a forebody, comprising: an upper conforming portion disposed at an end of the main body portion, wherein the upper conforming portion comprises an outwardly and upwardly projecting curved surface configured to receive and substantially conform to a forward portion of a crown of a ball cap; and a lower portion extending outwardly from a bottom portion of the upper conforming portion and the end of the main body portion, wherein the lower portion is configured to receive at least a portion of a bill of the ball cap.
 2. A storage bag for a plurality of ball caps according to claim 1, wherein the lower portion comprises a curving shape configured to conform to an outer edge of the bill of the ball cap.
 3. A storage bag for a plurality of ball caps according to claim 1, further comprising a pair of carrying straps wherein each carrying strap extends upwardly from a side of the main body portion.
 4. A storage bag for a plurality of ball caps according to claim 1, further comprising a zipper extending along a first side of the main body portion.
 5. A storage bag for a plurality of ball caps according to claim 4, wherein the zipper further extends along an upper rear section of the main body portion towards an opposing second side of the main body portion.
 6. A storage bag for a plurality of ball caps according to claim 1, wherein a bottom surface of the main body portion comprises a semi-rigid panel extending along a length of the main body portion.
 7. A storage bag for a plurality of ball caps according to claim 1, wherein the main body portion and the upper conforming portion comprise a transparent material.
 8. A storage bag for a plurality of ball caps according to claim 1, further comprising a grommet disposed along a lower rear section of the main body portion opposite the lower portion.
 9. A storage bag for a plurality of ball caps according to claim 1, wherein the main body portion comprises: a height between eleven and eighteen centimeters; a width between sixteen and twenty-eight centimeters; and a length of at least twelve centimeters.
 10. A storage bag for a plurality of ball caps, comprising: a main body portion having an interior volume, wherein the main body portion comprises: a flat bottom section; a substantially flat rear section extending upwardly from the flat bottom section; two opposing sidewalls extending upwardly from the flat bottom section and extending forward from the substantially flat rear section at a first end; and a top portion extending between the opposing sidewalls and the substantially flat rear section to form the interior volume; and a forebody, comprising: an upper conforming portion extending upwardly from the flat bottom section at a second end of the two opposing sidewalls opposite the substantially flat rear section, wherein the upper conforming portion comprises an outwardly and upwardly projecting curved surface configured to substantially conform to a forward portion of a crown of a ball cap; and a lower portion extending outwardly from a bottom edge of the upper conforming portion, wherein the lower portion comprises: a pocket configured to receive at least a portion of a bill of the ball cap when the forward portion of a crown of the ball cap is positioned against an interior surface of the outwardly projecting curved surface of the upper conforming portion; and a curving forward edge configured to conform to an outer edge of the bill of the ball cap.
 11. A storage bag for a plurality of ball caps according to claim 10, further comprising a pair of carrying straps wherein each carrying strap extends upwardly from one of the opposing sidewalls of the main body portion.
 12. A storage bag for a plurality of ball caps according to claim 10, further comprising a zipper extending lengthwise along one sidewall.
 13. A storage bag for a plurality of ball caps according to claim 12, wherein the zipper further extends across the top portion towards the opposing sidewall.
 14. A storage bag for a plurality of ball caps according to claim 10, wherein the flat bottom section comprises a semi-rigid panel.
 15. A storage bag for a plurality of ball caps according to claim 10, further comprising a grommet extending outward from the flat bottom section and perpendicular to the substantially flat rear section. 